Something Wild

Part IV: Chapter Thirteen

hello hello here's another update! Almost done with my final paper AND MY UNDERGRAD! SUPER HYPE. 

Okay, our group of two will be becoming a group of three...

Enjoy!

Part IV Chapter Thirteen:

We've officially run out of food. Val's been procrastinating because she doesn't think I'm capable of leaving the house. And I've been insistent that she's not going without me. Which is how we end up sharing the last of the water and beef jerky from the convenience store over a month ago. There's nothing left to do in this house than pack up and find more supplies. That's the life we live now.

It's not the easiest to walk around, my body is still healing. My bruises are turning yellow, and my cuts are turning to scars, but my muscles don't feel like they had before. All those years training came crushing down the moment the fucking ugly beast tossed me through a window like a ragdoll. I'm not upset or anything; not in the slightest. Now I'm borderline useless to Val other than the occasional Rotter I can take down on my own.

Don't get me wrong, she can handle pretty much everything on her own. But I don't like not being of any help. I don't like feeling helpless in this situation, but I know I need to heal before I can fully get back to what I was before. So, I let Val carry the heavy stuff, and kill the Rotters, and go into rooms first, even though my heart is thundering in my chest every time because what if she gets hurt? What if I lose her?

I'm determined to get better so I can protect her, because I'm not losing her. I refuse. Not even this bruised and battered body could stop me from protecting her, no matter the cost.

"Peaches, there seems to be a neighborhood up ahead, I'm gonna go scope it out, you stay put and wait for my signal, yeah?"

"But, Val," I start to whine but she trots over to me and plants a kiss on my pouting lips.

"Stay. Put. You can see me from right here," she grins and waits for me to nod before heading down the street at a light run. I watch her gracefully take out a handful of Rotters as if it were nothing, before peering around the area. She turns giddily and bounces on the toes of her feet shooting me a thumbs up and a smile. My eyes roll, but I smile nonetheless as I move to join her.

We continue to meander through the area, keeping an eye out for supplies as we go. There are a few hoards of Rotters wandering through the streets, but for the most part, we are able to avoid them without accident. It's easy to move silently when I can barely more at all. Val has to keep slowing down to check on me and speeding up to check our surroundings. I feel bad. I feel like a burden.

"Wish we took the truck you stole," I say when she comes back to me, linking her hand with mine.

"We were out of gas, Peaches. A car is no use without gas," she laughs planting a kiss on my cheek.

"That's what siphoning is for," I explain. "I know how to do it."

"Of course, you do," she rolls her eyes smiling. "But it's dangerous."

"This whole world is dangerous, Val." She shrugs and notices a neighborhood coming up.

"I'm going to scope it out," she starts to walk off but I tug her back to me.

"Stop leaving me behind, I'm coming with you."

"Madison—"

"No, I'm coming with you. I can hold my own, please, I can't keep standing back and worrying about you," I say gazing at her sincerely. She runs her tongue over her teeth, and looks off in the distance, weighing the options. She doesn't want to agree. "Please, Val." I pout.